There is no one more vulnerable to injury or death than a pedestrian who is using the roadway. Unlike a motor vehicle occupant, they have nothing surrounding them to keep them safe. Even the motorcyclist has at least a helmet on. The pedestrian has nothing to protect him or her in the case of an accident. Motor vehicles are large, heavy, and unyielding in an accident with a person crossing the street. At Racine Olson, your Idaho Falls Pedestrian Accident Attorneys have represented people who have been involved in such accidents since the 1940s. We continue this tradition today.
Pedestrian Accidents Occur in Idaho Falls and ElsewherePedestrians are involved in accidents all the time. Recently, the Center of Disease Control did a study that found that 5,376 pedestrians were killed in 2015 alone. The report went on to note that there were more than 129,000 pedestrians across the nation that year who were injured badly enough that they ended up in an emergency room. It seems that these numbers will only go up with the emphasis on having a “greener” lifestyle and leaving a smaller footprint. People are more and more likely to be on the streets, crossing in crosswalks, and enjoying the outdoors as they get their exercise or simply walk to work.
Negligence Law Protects PedestriansNegligence law is largely responsible for protecting pedestrians in the case of accidents. The Idaho Jury Instructions provide that people must operate their vehicles as a reasonable person would under all the circumstances. Furthermore, there are specific statutes and laws that govern the places where a pedestrian can cross the street or walk alongside the road. When a motor vehicle breaks the law in an accident, this is said to be negligence per se. This means that because the motor vehicle driver violated a rule of the road, he or she is automatically found negligent for the accident. Thereafter, the injured person only needs to establish that he or she was injured and the amount of the damages.
Pedestrians Suffer Terrible Injuries in AccidentsIt would seem obvious that a pedestrian who is injured in a car accident often suffers catastrophic injuries. Oftentimes, a large motor vehicle slams into a person and hurdles them hundreds of feet. The pedestrian suffers broken bones, brain injuries, and even paralysis as a result of the negligent behavior of a driver. This leads to a loss of earning capacity, lost wages, broken bones and medical bills, and pain and suffering.
Your Racine Olson attorneys have handled these cases in Idaho Falls and all other places in the State of Idaho. We know the proper experts to hire in order to maximize your recovery. When you call Racine Olson you’ll get to visit with an attorney who can help you walk through your case and put your mind at ease. We will meet with you and together come up with a plan for success. Problem Solved.